Certificate — Education Staff Associate (School Counseling)

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Like the MEd in School Counseling, the conceptual framework of the ESA (School Counseling) Certificate program at SPU is based on theory and research that support a developmental, systemic approach to facilitating healthy development of students. This framework is built on the premise that school counselors

• are integral to a comprehensive developmental approach to education,
• focus on preventive and developmental strategies,
• are guided by sound educational interventions based on empirical research and best practice,
• stress collaboration and consultation with other school personnel and community resources to meet the needs of all students,
• maintain the highest level of professional and ethical competence.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

As a student in the ESA (School Counseling) Certificate program, you will complete the same academic requirements as students seeking the MEd in School Counseling, excluding 12 credits from the Foundations and Research Core. These requirements include the following:

Research Core

• EDCO 6107   Program Evaluation (3)
• EDCO 6974   Qualitative Research (3)

School Counseling Core

• EDCO 6600   Introduction to Systems Theory (2)
• EDCO 6670   Introduction to School Counseling (4)
• EDCO 6685   Counseling Theory (3)
• EDCO 6682   Positive Psychology and Spirituality in the Schools (3)
• EDCO 6674   Intro to Psychoed Assessment in School Counseling (3)
• EDCO 6675   Legal and Ethical Issues in School Counseling (3)
• EDCO 6676   Resiliency/At-Risk Assessment and Intervention (3)
• EDCO 6679   Career Counseling in the Schools (3)
• EDCO 6677   Multicultural Counseling in the Schools (3)
• EDCO 6683   Group Counseling Theory (3)
• EDCO 6686   Counseling Skills and Techniques (3)
• EDCO 6673   Group Counseling Practicum (3)
• EDCO 6930   Individual Counseling Practicum I (3)
• EDCO 6130   Strengths Based Classroom Management (3) if required
• EDCO 6931   Individual Counseling Practicum II (3)
• EDCO 6680   Special Education: Programs and Methods (3)
• EDCO 6672   K–12 Comprehensive School Counseling (3)
• EDCO 6681   Family Advocacy in K–12 Settings (3)
• EDCO 6901   Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling (3)
• EDCO 6902   Substance Abuse Counseling (3)
• EDCO 6903   Family Systems Theory and Consultation (3)

Education Block

The goal of the Education Block is to provide the non-certified teacher with practical experience in a school and the opportunity to learn about the life and issues of a classroom teacher. It is also intended to provide you with more credibility in the hiring process.

The Education Block consists of 100 hours of work in one classroom where you actively work with students. The situation should require only a minimal level of administrative/clerical work and may be a paid or volunteer activity with no course credit attached. You may also fulfill this requirement by paid employment in a school (e.g., as a paraprofessional or teaching assistant).

One minimum education class is also required during the Education Block: EDCO 6130 Classroom Management (3 credits). The goal of this course practical experience in education.

Internship

The 600-hour internship is a vital, integrative experience in which students conduct supervised counseling in a school setting over the course of an entire school year (three quarters). You are expected to begin your work at your internship school site at the beginning of the school year and finish the experience the last week of the K–12 school year.

This internship’s primary objective is the provision of practical experiences in the duties and activities of the school counselor. It requires the cooperative efforts of the student, a faculty supervisor from the SPU School of Education, and an approved school district site supervisor who is certified as an ESA school counselor with a minimum of three years’ experience as a school counselor and training in supervision. To correspond with CACREP standards for the counselor education program, the internship includes a minimum of 600 hours. A thesis option is also available.

Comprehensive Examination

A written Comprehensive Examination is required for this program as a tool to help synthesize and apply information gained throughout the course of study. The online exam consists of multiple choice questions and open-ended questions. 

Certification

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be recommended to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for an Initial Educational Staff Associate Certificate in Washington state.  

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

The MEd in School Counseling coursework is generally spread over a three-year period, beginning in Summer Quarter with Professional Core coursework. During the regular academic year, each class meets one night a week, generally from 5:00–7:35 p.m. In the second and third year of the program, students are required to take intensive Summer Session courses, which meet two to four days a week over four weeks. The Professional Core classes can be taken on campus or online. During the first two years, students can expect to take two or three classes each quarter.

SUGGESTED COURSE SEQUENCE

Your Three-Plus Year Course Plan may be customized to meet your needs.